More supplies flown to Sparta

USAF

STRANDED: The Russian fishing boat Sparta is stranded next to the Antarctic ice shelf in the Ross Sea.

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An air force plane is on its way to the stricken Russian fishing boat Sparta in the Ross Sea, carrying pumps, patches and other equipment.

The aircraft left Christchurch at 9am and was expected to arrive at the ship about 4pm, Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) search and rescue mission co-ordinator John Dickson said.

It would drop the equipment onto the ice next to the ship, after carrying out trial runs.

Sparta was now back on an even keel, with crew only needing to pump occasionally to keep ahead of incoming water, Dickson said.

The 48-metre boat was holed when it hit an iceberg on Friday about 3700km southeast of New Zealand and 1000km northeast of  Scott Base, on the edge of the Ross Sea Ice Shelf.

Its 32 crew are struggling to save the boat which fishes for lucrative toothfish.

While ships have been sent to help Sparta they are having difficulties in the icy conditions.

Dickson said Norwegian vessel Seljavaer was heading away from the Sparta as it tried to navigate a way around the heavy ice.

Sparta's sister ship, the Chiyo Maru No3 was still about 100 nautical miles away, and was not ice strengthened so its approach was being slowed as it navigated the ice pack.  The ice-strengthened polar research vessel Araon was expected to arrive in the area on December 26.

Weather in the area remained reasonably good, with occasional snow showers and cloud, but was forecast to worsen tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News